By Lanre Shodimu
Land constitutes an essential factor of production and often times, land associated crises distort agricultural production .
A new report by SBM Intelligence has therefore warned that violent land disputes are increasingly driving food insecurity, market disruption, and economic pressure across Nigeria, with impacts extending from rural farming communities to major urban trading centres.
With the title, ‘The Price of a Parcel: An Analysis of Land Disputes and Their Impact on Food Security in Nigeria’, attributed the trend to longstanding weaknesses in land governance, including unresolved tensions around communal, family, and formal ownership.
the report noted that land disputes are fuelling recurring conflicts that undermine agricultural production, disrupt supply chains, and raise food distribution costs.
The report draws av dataset of 54 violent land-dispute incidents recorded between October 2019 and January 2026, alongside a perception survey of 209 traders and vendors across nine cities in the six geopolitical zones, the report said land-related violence had evolved into a national economic and food security concern.
The study documented at least 112 confirmed fatalities linked to violent land disputes during the review period.
It also found that 72.7 per cent of surveyed traders and vendors had directly experienced the effects of land conflict on their businesses, operations, or access to goods.
According to Punch of March 26, 2026 report titled ” Violent land disputes threaten Nigeria’s food security, report warns”
The effect according to report include supply shortages, rising transportation costs, reduced customer traffic, temporary market closures, and increased uncertainty in food distribution networks.
The report noted that 2024 recorded the deadliest and most active year within the period under review, indicating an escalation in both the frequency and severity of land-related violence.
The findings further showed that while the impact of land disputes varies across regions, the consequences remain significant nationwide. In some areas, traders reported severe supply chain disruptions linked to insecurity along farming routes and in producing communities, while in others, weak land administration, delayed justice, and poor dispute resolution mechanisms were identified as key challenges.
The report noted that land conflicts often interrupt farming activities, delay harvests, and make transportation routes unsafe, resulting in higher costs and longer delivery times for food items.
SBM Intelligence said the findings underscore the need to treat land disputes not only as a security issue but also as a development and economic governance challenge.
Among the key findings, the report stated that violent land disputes are affecting both agricultural communities and urban food markets, communal clashes account for the majority of fatalities, and traders are experiencing higher purchase and transportation costs due to insecurity and supply disruption.
It also noted weak public confidence in authorities’ ability to resolve land disputes, with many respondents identifying improved security on highways and in farming communities as the most urgent intervention.
The report called for a coordinated response combining land governance reforms, improved local dispute resolution, more effective justice systems, and stronger security protection for farming and trading corridors.
It also recommended clearer land documentation and registration processes, faster adjudication of disputes, and greater attention to the food security implications of unresolved land tensions.
“Land is not just a legal or economic asset. In many parts of Nigeria, it is tied to identity, survival and local power.
“When disputes over land remain unresolved, the damage extends beyond the immediate communities involved and begins to affect trade, prices and livelihoods across wider regions,” the report stated.
SBM Intelligence said the report was intended to contribute to policy discussions on agriculture, internal security, rural development, and market stability, amid rising food inflation and pressure on household incomes.
Land has long been a central source of conflict in Nigeria, where property rights are shaped by a mix of customary, communal, and statutory laws.
Across both rural and urban areas, disputes often arise over ownership, inheritance, and access to agricultural land, grazing routes, and urban plots.
In rural communities, clashes frequently occur between farmers and herders, as competition over fertile land and water resources intensifies.
The report also stated that Ethnic, religious, and historical grievances often compound these tensions, turning disagreements into violent confrontations.
In urban and peri-urban areas, disputes over land allocation, property boundaries, and development projects have similarly escalated into violence, sometimes involving organised groups or politically connected actors.
